Refrigerator



March 22, '1932. E. E. ALLYNE REFRIGERATOR 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed Aug. 31.

gwuantou Ev E. ALLYNE REFRIGERATOR March 22, 1932.

Filed Aug. 31. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet gwuanto q WZQM W/ W m) Patented Mar. 22, 1932 PATENT; orrica EDMUND E. ALLYNE, 0F CLEVELAND, OHIO REF.RIGEIRAEL'OR Application filed August 31, 1927. Serial No. 216,558.

This invention relates to refrigerating apparatus and more particularly to thoseof the intermittent cyclic absorption type.

In such systems there is a tendency for the cycle to run more or less wildly, with an unnecessarily low temperature during refrigeration and considerable rise in box temperature during boiling and lapse periods. The present invention has for its object to more nearly stabilize or equalize the temperature at the evaporator or in the cooling or freezing chambers not only during the entire cycle of operations but also with due regard for a fairly wide variation in the room temperature outside the box.

More particularly, the invention has for its object to provide refrigerating apparatus in which the rate of refrigeration may be accelerated or retarded by proper control ofcirculation of air in the refrigerating chamber, to thereby take account of variations in room temperature, and also to provide a special arrangement of the evaporator, which is divided for shielding some parts to retard and exposing other parts to accelerate their heat absorbing abilit A further object of theinvention is to control the operation of 'therefrigerating apparatus so that the boiling operation is initiated before the cooling or freezing coils or parts of the evaporator begin to empty in a manner to leave the cooling or refri crating parts of the evaporator more or less all of cool refrigerating agent, with less liability to raise the temperature in their vicinity than when the are more nearly emptied, as is usual.

1 further object of the inventionis to generally improve the arrangement of the refrigerating chambers or compartments, the evaporator and its several parts', and the control system, all in a manner to secure more uniform box temperature under all conditions and with expenditure of refrigerating energy at the minimum rate and with consequent extension of refrigerating periods.

Further objects of the invention will be in part obvious and in part will appear more in detail hereinafter.

In the drawings, which represent one suitable embodiment of' the invention, Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation on approximately the line 11, Fig. 2; Fig. 2'is a sectional elevation on approximately. the line 22, Fig. 1, parts being broken out to expose interior construction; Fig. 3 is a rear elevation; Fi .4 is adetail section on the line 4-4, Fig. 2; igs.

'5 and 6 are detail sectional elevations, through certain traps or liquid seals; and Fig.

7 is an enlarged detailview of the control devices. I

The cabinet or casing may be of any suitable form or design but is usually provided with an upper refrigerating chamber 1 in which the food or other material to be cooled is stored, and a lower chamber 2 which contains a part of the operating and control mechanism later described. The cabinet shown in the drawings is provided with sheet metal walls 3 forming an outer shell and an intermediate horizontal wall 4, and in which is mounted an inner shell 5 of box-like form which forms the main refrigerating or cool-- ing chamber 1, the space 6 between the inner and outer shells being filled with suitable heat insulating material, such as cork or the like. The refrigerating chamber is closed b a suitable insulated door 1a.

So far as the refrigerating mechanism or apparatus is concerned, the drawings show anabsorption system of the intermittent cyclic type, although other types of refrigerating-apparatus may be utilized. As illustrated in the drawings, the lower chamber 2 contains the still-absorber 10, which is a cylindrical tank heated in any suitable manner, such as by the gas burner 11, and covered b a hood 12 communicating with a flue or stac 13 for carryin off the products of combustion, said hood concentrating the heat upon the still and securing quick heat transfer with minimum loss. From the top of the still a pipe 14 extends upwardly at a slight incline and is surrounded by a jacket 15 through which cooling water may be circulated, this arrangement forming a rectifier to condense and return to the still some of the absorbing agent, such as water, which may be carried over during the boiling operation. From the rectifier the gaseous refrigerant, such as ammonia, is conducted over a high loop 16 and through a pipe 17 down to a suitable liquid trap or seal, such as the trap 18 shown 1n detail in Fig. 5, and which may be of the form shown in an application of Albert C. Schickler for liquid trap, filed June 30, 1927, Serial No. 202,725, although other traps or flow controlling devices may be suitable for the purpose. From the trap 18 the gas flows through a pipe 19 to the condenser, which includes a series of pipe coils 20 wound in descending order within a sealed tank 21 through which coolin water may be circulated. The conof refrigerant, leaving the absorbing agent or weak liquor in the still. The heater is now turned off and absorption or return of therefrigerant to the absorbing agent begins and continues throughout the refrigerating operation, during which the gaseous refrigerant returns through the pipe 22, condenser coil 20 and-pipe 19 to the trap 18. Here it meets with opposition to return to the boiler through the pipe 17, due to the sealing liquid 23, such as mercury, in said trap, and finds a more ready outlet through the pipe 24, which conducts the gas over a high loop 25 to a cooling loop 26, which, generallyspeaking, is of U- form with its opposite legs connected to opposite ends of the boiler and is immersed in the cooling water in tank 21. Said loop has a substantially vertical leg 27 and a gradually rising inclined leg 28, the return pipe 25 for the gas communicating with the bottom of the rising leg, which maybe provided with washer-like fins-29 for more rapid heat transfer. During absorption the returning gas rises through the inclined leg 28 with arcirculation of'the' absorbing agent from the still downwardly through leg 27 and upwardly through leg 28, so that the absorbing agent is cooled'simultaneously with return of the gas, so as to permit absorption and carry on the refrigerating effect.

The evaporator comprises the storage tank I 30 into which the condensed liquid refrigerant is admitted from pipe 22, said storage tank supplying a freezing coil or member 31, in any 7 suitable manner, such as by gravity. The pipes of coil 31 are bent back and forthinto shelf-likev formand are contained Within a sub-chamber 32, heat insulated by the insulating walls 33 at the top, bottom, sides and back, its front being closed by a suitable heat insulated door 34. In this sub-chamber 32 suitable ice making containers of drawer or other form and indicated conventionally at 35, may be slid in position on or between the freezing pipes for freezing ice or desserts.

' The storage tank 30also supplies refrigerant to a cooling coil 36, bent to hour glass form and located behind the freezing chainber 32 in a second sub-chamber 37, which at its bottom has a wide opening into the cooling chamber 1 and at its side is separated therefrom by a vertical sheet metal wall 38 having an opening 39 near its upper end adapted to be closed or more or less opened by a vane or shutter 40 pivoted on a rod41 extending forwardly and exposed at the front of the refrigerator behind door 1a, where it is provided with a small arm or handle 42,

the end of which may serve as anindicator in connection with a series of raduations or indicia 43 on the front wall of the small chamber in which the storage tank 30is located. The storage tank itself may be surrounded with insulating material 44 soas to shield it from heat absorption.

Both sets of'coils 31 and 36 drain into a small cylindrical sump or collector 45, which is also connected to the storage tank 30 by a straight, vertical pipe 46 which may be surrounded or jacketed with heat insulating material, as at 47 The sump 45 drains into a liquid trap or seal 50, having a reduced lower portion 51 containing a sealingliquid 52, such as mercury, pipe 56 extending nearly to the bottom of said trap and being provided with small ports or openings 53 at its lower end. The outlet from said trap is by a lateral pipe 54 which communicates with the pipe 22 before mentioned.

The purpose of the trap 50 is to maintain a column of liquid in the evaporator but nevertheless permit return through said trap to the still-absorber of any absorbingagent which may be carried over entrained in the gas or with the condensed refrigerant delivered thereto, its operation being more fully described in a prior application of Albert G. Schickler for refrigerating apparatus, filed June 30, 1927, Ser. No. 202,726.

Tank 30 serves as a storage chamber for the useful refrigerant, permitting the same to flow downwardly into the freezing coil 31 and cooling coil. 36 as required. Practically no evaporation occurs in tank 30, because it is well insulated, but in both of said coils evaporation occurs, the gas rising and leaving the top of the storage tank through pipe 22. Because of the rising gas the shielded or heat insulated pipe 46 is provided to deliver fresh useful refrigerant to the coils 31, 36 from their bottoms.

The freezing coil 31 is located in an isolated small heat insulated chamber. Ittherefore produces and maintains a relatively low or freezing temperature in chamber 32, such as 30 F., and freezes ice or desserts rapidly. Its temperature is practically unaffected bytemperature variations caused in the main refrigerating chamber 1 by opening its door or the like.

The cooling coil 36 is located in an extension or bay of the main refrigerating chamber, communicating therewith through a wide bottom opening and at its top through the opening 39 controlled by the damper 40. This cooling coil supplies the refrigerating effect for the main cooling chamber and absorbs therefrom such heat as may be necessary to keep the main chamber at a suitable low cool-.

ing temperature, such as 45 F. In the subchamber 37 there is a current of descending cooled air, the warmer air in chamber 1 rising and entering the sub-chamber through the damper controlled opening, with a consequent continuous circulation of air. The rate of such circulation may be more or less controlled by the position to which the damper 42 is turned and the position of said damper is adjusted according to the room temperature, being opened more widely in warm weather than in cold weather. The graduations 43 are therefore usually marked Hot weather and Cold weather, or in some other suitable manner.

In the operation of a plant of this kind it is usually provided with some automatic control mechanism which turns on the heat when replenishment of liquid refrigerant is desirable and turns off the heat when replenishment is accomplished. The charge of refrigerant and absorbing agent in the present sys tem is usually made such, and the automatic or other control system is so constructed and adjusted, that at the end of the boiling oper-- ation the reservoir 30, as well as the coils 31, 36, pipe 46 and sump 45 down to the trap 51 are all filled with useful refrigerant up to nearly the top of storage chamber 30. The mercury column in trap 51 supports this column of refrigerant and prevents it from returning by gravity totheabsorber, except that according to the principles of these liquid'traps, as disclosed in said Schickler applications before referred to, any heavy weak liquor or absorbing agent is permitted to flow through the trap"51 and return. to

the boiler. The control system isalso so adjusted or manipulated that the upper level of liquid refrigerant is never permitted to get below approximately the bottom of the storage tank 30 or the top of the coils 31, 37, so

that the latter two coils remain constantly filled with refrigerant.

Any control system which produces the foregoing desirable results is suitable for the purpose. The drawings, however, show a special system including control parts housed in a casing in the bottom of the cabinet and arranged to start and etc the heater according to thedesirability o Starting or stopping the boiling operation. Thecontrol mechanism is shown more in detail in Fig. 7.

It includes some controller for the source of heat, either an-electric switch when electric heating is employed or a valve 61 in the as supply line for' the burner -11 shown.

aid valve is closed by upward movement, Fig 7, of its stem '62 and is opened by contrary movement. 'The valve stem is connected by a spring 63 to one arm of lever 64 pivoted at 65 on a suitable frame 65a, the other arm of said lever having a latching projection or bail 66. A spring 67 tends to move said lever and the valve toward open position. The

boiling operation may be stopped by closing the valve, which requires some device to raise the valve stem 62, suitably controlled by the effect of changing conditions in the still, such as the rise of its pressure or temperature. As illustrated, the frame of the control device carries a small expanding metal bellows 68 rigidly secured to the frame at one end and having its other end provided with a pusher or plunger 69 lying beneath an arm of lever 64 and arranged to lift the same and close the valve when the bellows expands. The chamber within the bellows is connected by a metal tube 70 to a small ca sule 71 lying in a re-entrant recess in the sti l and subject to its temperature. The bellows 68, tube 70 and capsule 71 form a sealed system, the capsule containing a small quantity of water, such as a drop or so, and the remainder of the system being filled with a heavy oil or some like material suitable for the urpose. When, at the conclusion of the boi ing period,vthe temperature of the still has risen to a proper degree the water in capsule 71 suddenly expands into vapor or steam and causes flow of the oil or other heavy liquid in the closed system to expand bellows 68 and thereby turn off the gas and terminate the boiling operation. This efiect moves the lever 64 from the Q of refrigerant drops materiall the evaporator, and because the'evaporator temperature tends to rise, a thermostatic cone trol is suitable, althou h other arrangements are satisfactory. As lllustrated, the boiling 1y operation is initiated by a second expanding metal bellows 73 connected by a tu e 74 to a capsule 75 which is located at the evaporator, Said bellows has a plunger 76 lying beneath and arranged to lift a pawl arm 7 6 normall moveddownwardly in Fig. 7 by a spring 8 Here also the bellows 73, tube 74 and capsule 75 are a sealed system filled evaporator adjacent to the ca ule 75 rises and the water therein melts, w ereupon .bel-

lows 73 contracts and 5 ring 78 moves the pawl arm' 77 downwar ly and releases the latch 72. In the meantime,'of course, the steam in the capsule 71 has condensed. bellows 68 has contracted and its plunger 69 has "so moved downwardly, so that when the latch 72 is released, the spring 67 moves the heat controller, fsuchas the gas valve shown, to. on position, which initiates the bo ling operation.

38 In the present system, as stated, theevaporator is subdivided into several parts, in-

31 and 36." -It is desirable to' switch'the cycle from refrigerating to boiling before the level below the top of the coils 31, '36. There ore the car tridge 75 is placedeither in a zone between the top'of said coils and the storage tankior more accurately, at or 'near a'pointbetween the storage and refrigerating parts of the evaporator as a whole. As the liquid refrigerant is evaporated during refrigeration, it is expelled, as it were,from the storage tank,

the metal walls of which begin to warm'up m from the top downwardly,'and the cartridge isplaced in a re-entrantrecess near the bot+ tom of the storage tank. Therefore the boiling operation is started at just about the time v that the storage tank becomes empty. it During the boiling operation the condensed refrigerant, which, of course, is warm, is delivered to the upper partof the evaporator where it collects until the boiling operation is finished, but the colder refrigerant in the coilsremains quiescent and there is little tendency to elevate the temperature in either of the chambers 1 or 32. Each of the coils 36 and 31 is made of such'proportions as to readily take care'of the desirable cool- 6 ing or freezing condition'in its chamber, and.

to also maintain its desirable temperature without appreciable rise during the boillng operation, said coils therefore being relative small compared with the storage tank, and even if the boilin operation is elayed until a small quantity of condensed refrigerant that the temperatures of their respective chambers do not materially rise during boilin I liy proper adjustment of the vane 40 the refrigerating effect in chamber 1 maybe accelerated or retarded according to outside temperature conditions, enabling therate of refri eration to be adjusted to maintain or stabi 'ze the box temperature regardless of outside conditions. There is no useless ex. penditures of refrigerating energy and the refrigerating part of the cycle may be extended over a maximum, with the possibility said coils are near y empty, they receive such of equalizing or stabilizing results .over a wide variation in outside'temperatures. What, I claim is: v

. 1. Refrigerating apparatus of the intermittent absorption type, comprisinga still-- absorber, a heater'therefor, and an evaporator including a storage portion and two coolcluding means responsive to temperature, changes in a zone between'the storage portion and both cooling portions of the evapcluding the'storage tank '30 and the coils,

orator. v I

2. Refrigerating apparatus of the .-inter-' mittent absorption type, comprisin a cas- .ing provided with two cooling 0 ambers sealed against cross communication of air scribed in claim 2, includin means for controlling the circulation of air in one of said chambers.

4. Refrigerating apparatus of the type described in claim 2, including a storage tank arranged to supply refrigerant separately to.

said two cooling portions. c I

' 5. Refrigerating apparatus of the intermittent absorption type, comprising a still- .absorber, a heater therefor, and an evaporatorincluding .a storage portion and two cooling ortions, a casing having chambers separate ysenclosing said two cooling portions and heat insulating them from each other, and controlling means for said. heater, including means responsive 'to' temperature changes in a zone between the storage portion and the uppermost cooling portion of the evaporator. a

6. Refrigerating apparatus of the intermittent absorption type, comprising a casing provided with three chambers sealed against cross communication of air between them and heat insulated individually and from each other, and an evaporator having .a storage rtion inone of said chambers and a cooling portion in each of the other two chambers.

Refrigerating apparatus of the type described in claim 6, including means for controlling the circulation of air in one of the. chambers containing a cooling. portion of the evaporator.

In testimony whereof I hereby afiix my l signature.

' EDMUND E. ALLYNE. 

